Can handling apparatus



Febf20, 1934. A. R. THOMPSON GAN HANDLING APPARATUS Original Filed May 14, 1932 471'/ l Il INVENTOR.

HIIIIIIIH Patented Feb. 20, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcr.

1,948,435 CAN HANDLING APPARATUS Application May 14, 1932, Serial 110,811,424 Renewed Jill! 17, 1933 8 Claiml. (Cl. 19E- 212) This invention relates to can handling apparatus and embodies certain new and useful improvements in can transporting mechanism of the reel and spiral type such as is commonly used in the canning industry to convey cans from one point to another, usually through processing apparatus such as, for example, cookers, coolers, or the like.

It is believed that a proper understanding of. the construction and advantages of the invention will best be had by reference to the ensuing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing; but it may be stated here that the general object of the invention is to provide a can handling and conveying mechanism of the character referred to, in which provision is made for preventing abrasion of l the can heads such as has commonly resulted from the use of apparatus heretofore known.

Referring to the drawing, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a. pressure cooker or cooler, a portion of the shell being broken away so as to illustrate details of construction of the reel and spiral mechanism which conveys the cans therethrough.

Figure 2 is a fragment of the reel and spiral shown in Figure 1, drawn to a considerably enlarged scale, so as to better illustrate its construction and operation.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 2 but illustrating, for purposes of comparison, the reel and spiral construction which has heretofore been in general use prior to my invention.

Referring flrstto Figures 1 and 2, the reference character 1 denotes a suitable base upon which is mounted the vertical cylindrical shell 2 of a pressure cooker or cooler, into which the cans are introduced in single file near one end by a rotary pressure-tight valve 3, andfrom which they are discharged near the other end by a similar rotary valve 4. The construction and operation of such valves is well known in the art, and since they form no part of the present invention it is not deemed necessary to illustrate further details of their construction.

Within the shell 2 and extending spirally around its inner circumference is a helical rail 5, upon the flange 6 of which the ends of the cans are received as they are introduced into the shell 2 by the valve 3. The cans are then advanced along the flange 6, which forms a can propelling rail, by means of a rotatable reel mounted concentrically of the spirally extending rail 5 and comprising a plurality of rings 7 secured to a revoluble shaft 8 and provided with a peripheral series of pusher bars 9, preferably formed of angle iron as best seen in Figure 2, and traveling in close proximity to the edge of the flange 6 so as to engage the sides of the I0 cans by the projecting faces of the angle irons and advance them along the guide rail 6 While at the same time partially supporting them by the rear faces of the angle irons.

The reel is rotated by means of power apo5 plied to a gear 10 secured to the upper end of the reel shaft 8, and the discharge valve 4 is driven by a pinion 11 secured to the valve shaft l2 and meshing with the gear 10. A pinion 13 secured to the inlet valve shaft 14 intermeshes 70 with a gear 15 secured to the lower end of the reel shaft 8 and thereby'drives the inlet valve 3.

Referring to Figure 2, it will be noted that the opposed faces of the pusher bar 9 and the rail 5 are spaced apart slightly more than the diameter 'f6 of the can 16, and this makes allowance for slight variations in can diameters resulting from dents or other imperfections in the cans. Except for this clearance, cans of abnormal diameter might be caught and crushed between the reel and the spiral rail 5, thereby causing a jam, resulting in serious damage to the apparatus; Furthermore, it is often desirable to construct the mechanism with sufficient clearance so that it is susceptible of use for conveying cans of more than one size and, consequently, it is necessary to spacethe pusher bars 9 a sufficient distance from the rail 5 to clear cans of the largest size for which the apparatus is intended to be used. The result is that some or all of the cans, as the case may be, may tip slightly as shown, and in order to allow for this tipping and at the same time prevent the can heads 16a from coming into contact with the inner edge of the flange 6, the flange is bent downwardly away from the ends of the cans which are guided thereby; the angle to which the flange is bent being suflicient to clear the heads of the cans when in their extreme tipped position.

Since it is in this construction of the flange 6 10o that the present invention resides, it is believed that an understanding of its advantages and eect will be best promoted by a brief reference to the construction and operation of apparatus of this character as previously known prior to my invention, reference being had to Figure 3 of the drawing for this purpose.

It will be understood that when sealed cans are subjected to heat treatment, the application of the heat causes an expansion of the contents internally of the can, whereby the end walls or heads 16a'of the cans are caused to bulge outwardly more or less, depending upon the amount of heat applied. Where the construction of the spiral can guide is such that the flange 6a extends at right angles to the reel axis, as shown in Figure 3, it will be noted that the bulging of the can heads causes them to rest upon the edge of the flange 6a, thereby resulting in considerable abrasion to the can heads by reason of the friction between them and the flange as they pass therealong; and it will be appreciated, of course, that the bulge may be suflicient to cause the cans to assume this position even though they may not be tipped.

As is well known, the majority of metallic cans in which food stuffs are preserved for the market are constructed of sheet iron overlaid with a thin coating of tin, and any considerable abrasion of the surface of the can is apt to result in wearing away the tin coating, thereby exposing the sheet iron underneath, and causing the can to turn black and eventually rust. The result is a very unsightly and weakened can, which is not acceptable to the trade.

Referring now back to Figure 2 again, it will be seen that by inclining the working face of the flange 6 at an acute angle to the reel axis, that is to say, away from the ends of the cans contacting therewith, allowance is made both for bulging of the can heads and for tipping of the cans, whereby the edge of the flange clears the heads of the cans regardless of tipping or bulging. Consequently, the can is advanced along the flange 6 while contacting therewith upon its rim only, and no abrasion results to the can heads.

Although I have described the conveying mechanism embodying the principles of my invention as being applied to a pressure cooker or cooler, it will be appreciated that its usefulness is not limited thereto, but it may be used to convey cans through other types of apparatus, or may be used alone for conveying cans from one point to another. Furthermore, it will be understood that the same is not only useful for elevating cans, but may be used for conveying them horizontally as, for example, the cooker shown in Figure 1 might be laid upon its side in a horizontal position instead of a vertical position, the invention being equally applicable and advantageously used in this position, as well as in that shown. I desire to state, therefore, that the invention is not to be limited to the precise details of construction illustrated, but that various changes and modiiications may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims appended hereto.

Having now described my invention and in what manner the same may be used, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A can handling mechanism comprising a fixed helical can propelling rail along which the cans are advanced with their rims in contact with the face thereof, the face of said rail being inclined away from the ends of cans propelled therealong, and a reel for advancing cans along the rail with their rims in contact therewith and their heads clearing the rail.

2. A can handling mechanism comprising a fixed spirally extending can propelling rail, the working face oi' the rail being inclined at an acute angle to the axis of the spiral, and a reel for advancing cans along the rail with their rims in contact with the working face of the rail, and preventing them from tipping sufficiently to bring their heads into contact with the rail.

3. A can handling mechanism comprising a fixed hellcally disposed can propelling rail, the working face of the rail being inclined away from the ends of cans propelled therealong, and a rotatable reel disposed concentrically of the helical rail for pushing cans along the rail with their rims in contact therewith, said reel including means for limiting the cans to a predetermined angularity with respect to the reelnaxis.

4. A can handling mechanism comprising a fixed helical can propelling rail along which the cans are advanced with their rims in contact withA the face thereof, the face of said rail being inclined away from the ends of cans propelled therealong, and a rotatable reel disposed concentrically of the helical rail comprising a series of spaced angle bars for pushing cans along the rail with their rims in contact therewith and their heads clearing the rail.

5. In an apparatus for handling canned goods,

a shell provided with a can inlet and a can outlet, a helical rail disposed within the shell and forming a can guide along which the cr'is are advanced from the inlet to the outlet with their ends adjacent the face thereof, the face of the rail being inclined away from the ends of cans guided thereby, and a rotatable reel for advancing cans along the rail with their rims in contact with the face of the rail, and preventing them from tipping sufficiently to bring their heads into contact with the rail.

6. In an apparatus for handling canned goods, a shell provided with a can inlet and a can outlet, a can guide within the shell for directing cans through the shell from the inlet to the outlet with their ends adjacent the guide, the face of the guide being inclined away from the ends of cans passing therealong, means for pushing cans along the rail with their rims in contact therewith, and means for limiting the cans to a predetermined angularity with respect to the shell axis.

7. An apparatus for conveying filled containers through a spiral path, comprising an angular member forming said spiral path and having its supporting surface inclined to the axis of said spiral so that cans moved therealong may tip 130 axially and still ride on their rims, with means for moving said containers along said path on their rims with their heads clearing said supporting surface.

8. An apparatus for conveying heated, hermetically sealed, metal can having their ends bulged outwardly consisting in a spiral can supporting track having its supporting surface inclined inwardly toward the axis of said track, and means for advancing cans along the track 146 on their rims with their heads clearing the supporting surface of said track.

ALBERT R. THOMPSON. 

